Former US Rep. Bart Gordon seeks commercial development

MURFREESBORO — Former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon and his wife, Leslie, seek to develop four retail commercial lots and a day care near the southeast corner of New Salem Highway and Cason Lane.

The couple obtained master plan approval from the Murfreesboro Planning Commission Wednesday for their 19.6-acre development on the southwest side of the city.

"The master plan is in good order," said Matthew Blomeley, a principal planner for the city.

Two possible restaurants could be coming to the property that's in the southeast quadrant of the New Salem Highway and Cason Lane intersection, said John Harney, a real estate agent representing the Gordons.

The Gordons, who were not present for the meeting, have already sold a lot for a day care to a company in northern Mississippi, Harney said during an interview before the start of the planning commission meeting.

Bart Gordon is from Murfreesboro and served as a Democrat in Congress for 26 years before announcing in late 2009 that he would not seek re-election in 2010. Harney said the former lawmaker plans to move back to Murfreesboro from the Washington area after a child graduates from high school.

The Gordons have invested in other real estate, including a former Publix store that's now used as a Gold's Gym near the southwest corner of Memorial and Northfield boulevards, Harney said.

The couple also owns property where a Dollar General operates off Joe B. Jackson Parkway, the real estate professional added.

The former congressman helped the city obtain federal funding for many projects, including the development of the Stones River Greenway and the widening of Middle Tennessee Boulevard by the Middle Tennessee State University campus, where Gordon served as student body president before graduating in 1971.